Torres del Paine National Park was voted the 8th Wonder of the World after receiving a torrent of more than 5 million votes from the world over. The contest was organized by the travel website VirtualTourist.com. The Chilean UNESCO biosphere reserve which is reputed for its lakes, waterfalls, glaciers and granite towers was selected from among 300 entries from 50 different countries by VirtualTourist site visitors.
In a statement made by Kimberly Stirdivant Wason who is the head of PR and marketing for VirtualTourist, she said that from the start, they knew that they could depend on the vast knowledge of the site visitors. She cited the Park’s awe-inspiring physical attributes and amazing landscapes as the two major factors which compelled the voters to select Torres del Paine as the best candidate.
Aged 145 to 66 million years ago, Torres del Paine in Chilean Patagonia occupies 2,442 sq. kilometers (935 sq. miles) and is popular for its amazing mountain peaks with the highest point at 9,462 feet (2884 meters).
The Chilean-born actor Cristian de la Fuente also announced the good news during the Los Angeles popular show “Good Day L.A.” De La Fuente who made an appearance on ABC's “Private Practice” and “Dancing with the Stars” praised the National Park as a place where anyone can easily lose themselves. From his perspective, the place is an amazing area of unspoilt nature. “Whether you tour on foot or by car, Torres del Paine is one of the most impressive areas not only in Chile but the world over.”
Daniel Pardo who is the Chilean Secretary of Tourism was cited saying that he always believed that Torres del Paine could make it to the top of the list if anyone sought out to look for the World's 8th Wonder. He anticipates that the newly acquired title which also happens to be respected around the world will bring even more visitors and tourists to enjoy and adore the National Park's unique splendor.
Runners up were El Salvador's Santa Ana Volcano, Mexico's Copper Canyon, Slovenia's Skocjan Caves and Guatemala's Tikal National Park. If you like nature but have never felt like you were touring a real wonder of the world, try out Torres del Paine.